Method and apparatus for allocating channel element resources in communication systems

1. In a communication system that includes a base station having a plurality of channel elements, a method for communicating between a mobile station and said base station comprising the steps of: assigning a finite number (N) of channel elements selected from said plurality of channel elements for a forward link communication from said base station to said mobile station; inputting at least one forward link signal associated with said forward link communication to each of said N channel elements; determining a power gain requirement of said forward link communication; adjusting power gain setting of each of said N channel elements such that an aggregate of power gain settings of said N channel elements substantially equals to said power gain requirement; outputting N forward link signals with adjusted power gain according to said adjusting step from correspondingly said N channel elements; combining said N forward link signals to form a combined forward link signal.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said adjusting power gain includes adjusting power gain setting of each of said N channel elements in substantially equal parts such that said aggregate of power gain settings of said N channel elements substantially equals to said power gain requirement.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said communication system is a code division multiple access communication system, further comprising the step of: assigning an orthogonal code to said N channel elements for coding said input forward link signal to produce N coded forward link signals with adjusted power gain according to said adjusting step from correspondingly said N channel elements.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: receiving at said N channel elements a reverse link signal from said mobile station; selecting a first channel element from said N channel elements for a processing of said reverse link signal.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 further comprising the steps of: detecting failure of said first selected channel element; substituting, following said detecting failure, said processing of said reverse link signal from said first selected channel element to a second channel element selected from said N channel elements excluding said first selected channel element.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: determining power level adjustment of a reverse-link signal from said mobile station; selecting a first channel element from said N channel elements to add at least one power level control data bit having a value according to said determining step to information data transmitted via said forward link signal.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 further comprising the steps of: detecting failure of said selected first channel element; substituting a second channel element selected from said N channel elements excluding said first channel element to add at least said power level control data bit having a value according to said determining step to information data transmitted via said forward link signal.

8. In a communication system that includes a base station having a plurality of channel elements, an apparatus for communicating between a mobile station and said base station comprising: means for assigning a finite number (N) of channel elements selected from said plurality of channel elements for a forward link communication from said base station to said mobile station; means for inputting at least one forward link signal associated with said forward link communication to each of said N channel elements; means for determining a power gain requirement of said forward link communication; means for adjusting power gain setting of each of said N channel elements such that an aggregate of power gain settings of said N channel elements substantially equals to said power gain requirement; means for outputting N forward link signals with adjusted power gain according to said adjusting step from correspondingly said N channel elements; means for combining said N forward link signals to form a combined forward link signal.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said means for adjusting power gain includes means for adjusting power gain setting of each of said N channel elements in substantially equal parts such that said aggregate of power gain settings of said N channel elements substantially equals to said power gain requirement.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said communication system is a code division multiple access communication system, further comprising: means for assigning an orthogonal code to said N channel elements for coding said input forward link signal to produce N coded forward link signals with adjusted power gain according to said adjusting step from correspondingly said N channel elements.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 further comprising: means for receiving at said N channel elements a reverse link signal from said mobile station; means for selecting a first channel element from said N channel elements for a processing of said reverse link signal.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11 further comprising: means for detecting failure of said first selected channel element; means for substituting, following said detecting failure, said processing of said reverse link signal from said first selected channel element to a second channel element selected from said N channel elements excluding said first selected channel element.

13. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising: means for determining power level adjustment of a reverse-link signal transmitting from said mobile station; means for selecting a first channel element from said N channel elements to add to information data transmitting via said forward link signal at least one power level control data bit having a value according to determination of said means for determining power level adjustment of a reverse-link signal.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13 further comprising: means for detecting failure of said selected first channel element; means for substituting a second channel element selected from said N channel elements excluding said first channel element to add at least said power level control data bit.